Clinical trial • Phase III • Neurology|Rare Disease

Elsunersen (antisense oligonucleotide); sequence/chemical designation as listed in product record: 5'-MOEMC-(SP)-MOEMC-(P)-MOEA-(P)-MOEMC-(P)-MOEG-(P)-MOEA-(P)-DMC-(SP)-DA-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DA-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DMC-(SP)-MOET-(P)-MOEA-(SP)-MOEMC-(SP)-MOEA 3' for SCN2A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (SCN2A-DEE)

Phase III trial of Elsunersen (antisense oligonucleotide); sequence/chemical designation as listed in product record: 5'-MOEMC-(SP)-MOEMC-(P)-MOEA-(P)-MOE…

Overview

Trial Therapeutic Area
Neurology|Rare Disease
Trial Disease
SCN2A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (SCN2A-DEE)
Trial Stage
Phase III
Drug Modality
Oligonucleotide
Paediatric Trial
Yes
Orphan Drug
Yes

Key dates

Initial CTIS Submission Date
06-03-2025
First CTIS Authorization Date
30-06-2025

Trial design

Randomised, open-label, sham-procedure (no injection) versus elsunersen 1 mg intrathecal (it) every 4 weeks for 6 doses (24 weeks) in cohort 1; cohort 2 and cohort 3 are open-label elsunersen (cohort 2: 1 mg it; cohort 3: start 0.5 mg it with option to escalate to 1 mg it).-controlled, adaptive Phase III trial in Italy, Germany.

Randomised
Yes
Open Label
Yes
Comparator
Sham-procedure (no injection) versus elsunersen 1 mg intrathecal (IT) every 4 weeks for 6 doses (24 weeks) in Cohort 1; Cohort 2 and Cohort 3 are open-label elsunersen (Cohort 2: 1 mg IT; Cohort 3: start 0.5 mg IT with option to escalate to 1 mg IT).
Adaptive
True, includes within-subject dose escalation for Cohort 3 (start 0.5 mg IT with option to escalate to 1 mg IT after the 3rd 0.5 mg dose based on DSMB review), staggered cohort enrolment and DSMB safety assessments before dose initiation in subsequent cohorts.
Single Multiple Or Escalation Dose Combined
Yes
Target Sample Size
30
Trial Duration For Participant
364

Eligibility

Recruits 30 paediatric patients.

Pregnancy Exclusion
Is currently pregnant or breastfeeding or is planning to become pregnant during the clinical trial or within the timeframe specified in Section 5.5.3 of the protocol.
Vulnerable Population
Participants are paediatric (aged 0 to ≤18 years) and the trial identifies vulnerable populations. Consent must be provided by the participant or parent/legal guardian per inclusion criterion: 'Participant, or parent/legal guardian, is willing to sign an informed consent document...'. Assent forms are provided for minors (documents for assent age 6-11 years and assent age 12-17 years are listed), and there are ICFs for parent/guardian and legal representative documents. Patient-facing documents and ICFs are available in English, German and Italian.

Inclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Participant, or parent/legal guardian, is willing to sign an informed consent document indicating that he/she understands the purpose of the clinical trial; understands, and can perform, complete, and comply with all the procedures and assessments that are required during the clinical trial; and is willing to participate in the clinical trial.\n- Has an eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m², calculated using the Schwartz formula (updated bedside version).\n- Has a confirmed SCN2A variant based on genetic testing.\n- Has onset of seizures prior to 3 months of age.\n- Is between the ages of 0 (with a gestational age of at least 37 weeks +1 day) to ≤18 years at Screening.\n- Seizure frequency of 4 or more countable motor seizures refractory to current treatment per 28-day during the Baseline Observation Period. Note: Countable motor seizures are defined as tonic seizures (bilateral; with or without fall or risk of fall); clonic seizures (bilateral); tonic-clonic seizures; atonic seizures (with fall or risk of fall) and atonic seizures (without fall or risk of fall); focal to bilateral tonic-clonic; focal or focal seizures with observable motor symptoms (including unilateral tonic or unilateral clonic).\n- If prescribed any ASM or non-pharmacological intervention (including ketogenic diet and vagus nerve stimulation ) for the treatment of epilepsy or other symptoms of early-onset SCN2A-DEE (auxiliary medicinal products) is on a stable dose, settings, or parameters for 1 month prior to Screening (not to include weight-based dose changes of medications).\n- Has been reviewed by the ERC prior to enrollment, including documentation of early onset SCN2A clinical phenotype , disease etiology, MRI results, and seizure frequency\n- Seizure diary completion must occur on ≥80% days in the Screening/Observation\n- Has a serum total bilirubin value <1.5× the ULN or a serum ALT or AST value <3×ULN."}

Exclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- At screening, has any significant ongoing disease, disorder, laboratory abnormalities, environmental factor, or any ongoing or history of any psychiatric, medical, or surgical condition that, in the judgment of the investigator in consultation with the medical monitor and/or sponsor’s designee, might jeopardize the participant’s safety or interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of elsunersen; impact the clinical trial scientific objectives, or interfere with participation in the clinical trial.\n- Is currently pregnant or breastfeeding or is planning to become pregnant during the clinical trial or within the timeframe specified in Section 5.5.3 of the protocol.\n- Has any abnormal findings on brain MRI that may be contributing to the participant’s epilepsy, would put the participant at increased risk of ASO therapy (including but not limited to hydrocephalus), or any other finding that may be considered clinically significant as judged by the PI or ERC. Note: If a brain MRI has not been performed within 6 months of screening, the participant will need to have a brain MRI without gadolinium as part of Screening to assess ventricle size.\n- Has any clinically significant or known pathogenic genetic variant other than in the SCN2A gene, or a genetic variant that may explain or contribute to the participant’s epilepsy and/or developmental disorder, in the opinion of the investigator or confirmed by the ERC.\n- Has any other/additional etiology for epilepsy and/or DEE (e.g. encephalomalacia, etc) in the opinion of the investigator or confirmed by the ERC.\n- Has bone, spine (eg, kyphosis, scoliosis), bleeding, or other disorder (including, but not limited to, intolerance to anesthesia, if applicable) that might expose the participant to risk of injury or unsuccessful lumbar puncture.\n- Is unwilling or unable to discontinue medications that might increase the risk of bleeding (eg, heparin, low molecular weight heparin, platelet inhibitors) during the clinical trial (as defined in Section 6.4.1 of the protocol).\n- Is required to take any excluded medication or is anticipated to require treatment with at least 1 excluded medication during the clinical trial (as defined in the relevant section of the protocol).\n- Has laboratory test results at Screening outside the normal ranges for platelet count, prothrombin time (PT)/ partial thromboplastin time (PTT)/ international normalized ratio (INR), or renal function (serum creatinine [sCr] and urine protein [Uprot]), that are clinically meaningful as judged by the investigator.\n- Has received any experimental or investigational drug, device, or other therapy within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to Screening, including any prior use of gene therapy. Note: This restriction does not apply to participants from PRAX 222-111 clinical trial or to patients currently receiving elsunersen through Expanded or Emergency Access, who may enroll directly into the Extension Period.\n- Has a known hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation of elsunersen."}

Endpoints

Primary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change in monthly (28 days) motor seizure frequency from baseline to treatment after 24 weeks","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change in monthly (28-day) motor seizure frequency from Baseline Observation Period to treatment at 24 weeks; baseline assessed during a 4-week Baseline Observation Period (Day -28 to Day -1) using seizure diary count of defined countable motor seizures."}

Secondary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- Responder rate - defined as a ≥50% reduction in monthly seizure frequency from baseline compared to treatment after 24 weeks (Treatment Period)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Responder rate defined as ≥50% reduction in monthly seizure frequency from baseline at 24 weeks."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change in motor seizure-free days from baseline (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change in number of motor seizure-free days compared to baseline measured during Treatment and Extension Periods."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) at baseline compared to treatment after 24 weeks (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"CGI-S score change from baseline to 24 weeks and at post-dose timepoints during Treatment and Extension Periods."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) subdomains scores at each post-dose time point (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"CGI-I subdomain scores assessed at each post-dose time point during Treatment and Extension Periods."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Caregiver Global Impression-Severity (CgGI-S) at baseline compared to treatment after 24 weeks (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"CgGI-S score change from baseline to 24 weeks and at post-dose timepoints during Treatment and Extension Periods."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Caregiver Global Impression-Improvement (CgGI-I) subdomains scores at each post-dose time point (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"CgGI-I subdomain scores assessed at each post-dose time point during Treatment and Extension Periods."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Sleep assessment scores at baseline compared to each post-dose time point (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Sleep assessment score changes from baseline at each post-dose timepoint during Treatment and Extension Periods."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Incidence and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Recording and summarising incidence and severity of TEAEs during Treatment and Extension Periods."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Changes in findings on physical and neurological examinations, vital sign measurements, clinical laboratory results and electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Safety assessments including physical/neurological exams, vitals, labs and ECGs compared to baseline across Treatment and Extension Periods."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of elsunersen (Treatment Period)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Measurement of plasma and CSF concentrations of elsunersen during the Treatment Period."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Plasma PK parameters of elsunersen (Treatment Period)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Calculation of plasma pharmacokinetic parameters for elsunersen during the Treatment Period."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Changes in the ASM regimen, dose and number of ASMs compared to Baseline (Extension Period Only)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Recording changes in antiseizure medication regimen, doses and counts relative to baseline during the Extension Period."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Peds QL Family Impact Module scores at baseline compared to each post-dose time point (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"PedsQL Family Impact Module score changes from baseline at post-dose timepoints during Treatment and Extension Periods."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Caregiver Exit Interview (Treatment and Extension Periods)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Caregiver Exit Interview assessments conducted at end of Treatment and/or Extension Periods to capture caregiver-reported outcomes."}

Recruitment

Planned Sample Size
30
Recruitment Window Months
24
Consent Approach
Informed consent must be signed by the participant or parent/legal guardian. Assent forms are provided for minors (assent age 6-11 years and assent age 12-17 years). Legal representative ICFs and parent/guardian ICFs are available. Patient information and consent/assent documents are available in English, German and Italian (documents listed in trial dossier).

Geography

Total Number Of Sites
2
Total Number Of Participants
10

Italy

Earliest CTIS Part Ii Submission Date
15-05-2025
Latest Decision Or Authorization Date
30-06-2025
Processing Time Days
46
Number Of Sites
1
Number Of Participants
5

Sites

Site Name
Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu
Department Name
Epilepsy and Movement Disorders Unit
Principal Investigator Name
Nicola Specchio
Principal Investigator Email
Nicola.specchio@gmail.com
Contact Person Name
Nicola Specchio
Contact Person Email
Nicola.specchio@gmail.com
Number Of Participants
5

Germany

Earliest CTIS Part Ii Submission Date
16-06-2025
Latest Decision Or Authorization Date
04-07-2025
Processing Time Days
18
Number Of Sites
1
Number Of Participants
5

Sites

Site Name
Universitaetsklinikum Bonn AöR
Department Name
Department of Neuropaediatrics and Epilepsy Centre
Principal Investigator Name
Walid Fazeli
Principal Investigator Email
walid.fazeli@ukbonn.de
Contact Person Name
Walid Fazeli
Contact Person Email
walid.fazeli@ukbonn.de
Number Of Participants
5

Sponsor

Primary sponsor

Full Name
Praxis Precision Medicines Inc.
Organisation Type
Pharmaceutical company
Country Of Registered Address
United States

Third parties

  • {"country":"Ireland","full_name":"Transcrip Ireland Limited","duties_or_roles":"sponsorDuties code 12","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}

Investigational products

Investigational Product Name
PRAX-222 (elsunersen)
Active Substance
Elsunersen (antisense oligonucleotide); sequence/chemical designation as listed in product record: 5'-MOEMC-(SP)-MOEMC-(P)-MOEA-(P)-MOEMC-(P)-MOEG-(P)-MOEA-(P)-DMC-(SP)-DA-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DA-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DT-(SP)-DMC-(SP)-MOET-(P)-MOEA-(SP)-MOEMC-(SP)-MOEA 3'
Modality
Oligonucleotide
Routes Of Administration
Intrathecal
Route
Intrathecal
Authorisation Status
MIA (IMP) 20377 (investigational medicinal product)
Orphan Designation
Yes
Starting Dose
Cohort 1 & Cohort 2: 1 mg IT; Cohort 3: 0.5 mg IT (with option to escalate to 1 mg IT)
Dose Levels
0.5 mg; 1 mg
Frequency
Every 4 weeks (6 doses over 24 weeks during Treatment Period)
Maximum Dose
1 mg
Dose Escalation Increase
initial 0.5 mg IT then 1 mg IT

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